The alchemy of eclectic furnishings, fresh colors, and a minor layout shift works wonders on the faded interiors of a 1910 bungalow

When Nina Hamilton purchased her 4,500-square-foot, 1910 English Craftsman home four years ago, it didn't need major structural renovations, but it did need a serious decorating overhaul.

It was apparent that each of the former owners had taken a whack at the house, renovationwise," Hamilton says. She believes the living room fireplace, faced with handmade, embossed Craftsman ceramic tiles in browns and golds, may be the only original element remaining. After so many nips and tucks, the interiors became little more than a patchwork of dark and dismal rooms.

So Hamilton, an interior designer who handles clients from her home office, went to work on an upbeat decorating scheme that would tie the whole house together. To coordinate everything with Arts and Crafts-era styles, she used the fireplace-with its earthy colors, vintage patterns, and simple wooden mantel with dentil molding-as inspiration. "I referred back to the fireplace to anchor the design and used it as a consistency measure," she says. "I would always ask myself, 'Does this go with the fireplace?' "

Nina Hamilton calls her cozy sunroom-full of garden views, fresh air, and light-"the best part of the renovation. It faces east, so it's a lovely morning room."

A wall of built-in shelving in the study houses Hamilton's books, family photos, and collectibles. She reads in a pair of antique French leather club chairs.

Her goal was to brighten the interiors with a crisp coastal, yet casual tone. She began by mixing new furniture with some Asian antiques that she had inherited. "Then I added whatever came along, including some Spanish and Russian pieces," she explains. "It became very eclectic, but things still relate to each other."
The diverse furniture collection called for a neutral backdrop. Warm, ivory-colored painted trim throughout the house creates a thread of consistency, and most of the walls are painted or papered either cream or a soft celadon green.

In addition to major cosmetic changes, Hamilton also made some minor renovations in the house-creating a first-floor sunroom and a large second-floor master suite. The new sunroom, originally a covered front porch, had since been enclosed and converted to a big family room. But, she explains, her family "didn't need such a large family room," plus it blocked any view of the garden.

The large glass shower enclosure reaches up to the two-inch tongue-and-groove ceiling paneling, and the shower floor mimics the mosaic Greek-key border on the bathroom floor.

A backyard greenhouse was spruced up with some fresh paint, plus a new random-pattern slate floor.

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